Maker: A. Smith Bowman, Fredericksburg, Virginia, USA (Sazerac)
Age: 9 y/o
Proof: 136.4 (68.2% ABV)
Notes: Lot 01-C-14, The Party Source barrel #1
Appearance: Dark, ruddy copper with thick, slow legs.
Nose: Surprisingly mellow, leather, caramel, mango, a little copper.
On the palate: Medium-bodied, sweet and hot. Cotton candy, butterscotch. When a splash of water goes in, more spice comes out. Jalapeno, paprika, and cassia join the party.
Parting words: This is an exclusive offering from The Party Source (TPS) in Bellvue, Kentucky. TPS is one of the only retailers outside of Virginia to carry the Bowman line of spirits. The whiskey is first distilled in Frankfort at Buffalo Trace, trucked to Fredericksburg where it is redistilled and then aged there in Virginia. This is good whiskey, much better than its barrel-proof sibling Thomas Handy, and rye of this age is very hard to come by. That said, it’s expensive at $73 and while it’s good, it’s not great, in spite of all the internet gushing over this stuff. Nevertheless, it’s worth a recommendation. Makes a pretty good Sazerac cocktail too (on the rocks or with a little water added).
Sipology 